The federal agency in charge of the National Law Enforcement Memorial told 12 News' Christina Palladino that they rejected the application for Jennifer Sebena's name to be included because of the manner in which she died.

Sebena was on her regular patrol route in uniform on Christmas Eve when she was gunned down. But the National Law Enforcement Memorial told Palladino that they consider her death an incident of domestic violence, and do not plan to include her name on the monument in Washington, D.C.

The death touched the hearts of many throughout Wauwatosa, but the rejection by the National Law Enforcement Fund to recognize Sebena has many in law enforcement angry, including the head of the state's police union.

"We've been aggressively contacting board members of the National Law Enforcement Memorial and urging them to take a second look at this," said Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Police Association. "Not including officer Sebena on the national memorial would be a travesty and would be simply outrageous."

Fund officials told d12 News that because Sebena's husband is accused of shooting her they consider it a domestic-violence dispute. Ben Sebena has entered a not guilty by reason of insanity plea in the shooting.

Local police officers and friends are petitioning online to get Sebena honored with her name on the memorial.

"She dedicated her life to protect us and help others, so why can't we do something for her?" said her friend, Hannah Martin.

"As a law enforcement officer, I am outraged by the decision," Bill Mitchell wrote.

"If one day, I lay down my life at work, I would not want my family to have to fight to have my name respected or argue if my death was in the line of duty or not," said Baraboo police officer Amanda Meddaugh.

Brian Dorow, one of Sebena's former instructors, said he would do anything possible to help the National Memorial Fund change its stance.

"I'm actually going to review the criteria later tonight, and I'm going to reach out to my instructors who were her instructors and even if we have to send out a letter of support, we will definitely do that," he said.

Because of all the attention through Facebook and other social-media sites, along with dozens of phone calls to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, its board of directors will meet Thursday to reconsider Sebena's case.